Chapter 5: Once Upon A Midnight

Grimmauld Place, London

12:01am, December 15, 1973

Sirius Black did not spend a lot of time thinking about Theodosia Clarke. There were many other girls who were far more interesting and better looking than her, but unfortunately she was rather unavoidable in his everyday life. It wasn't so much that he disliked her, but he did not like that she spent time with Remus. It wasn't even that she spent a lot of time with Remus, as she had pointed out the last day of lessons; it was that she spent any time with him at all. Remus liked her, and thought she was both really nice and really smart. He would tell Peter some of the jokes she'd make during lessons (he'd tried to tell James and Sirius but found that they didn't always understand the muggle references) and about how helpful she was during potions.

Both James and Sirius noted that Remus was doing better in potions this year, and not just because she was doing most of the work herself. She'd explain what he got wrong, and help him figure out the right way to do it. She was incredibly patient with him, they noted with no small amount of animosity. Then she wants to write his essays for him when he misses classes! She had been doing a stellar job, if his grade in the class was anything to go by, but that wasn't the point!

Why was she being so nice to him? She had to want something, didn't she? It wasn't that Remus wasn't a popular guy, it's just that, well, it was Theodosia Clarke. They knew next to nothing about her, and she knew next to nothing about them, but she still felt the need to do all these nice things for Remus and only Remus. She ignored everyone else in her house like the plague, even her roommates.

I'd avoid them too if they talked about me like that, he thought disdainfully. It was a known fact that Marta and Marlene have had it out for Clarke since day one. Ever since she transferred they complained about her in some way or another. First it was how cramped their room was now that there was a fifth person. Then it was that she showered in the mornings ("so does Lily but that's not the point!"), and then it changed from things she did to the fact that she existed at all. They made fun of her weight, her hair, her pimples, her everything. They were the ones who started calling her Stretch Mark Clarke when they saw stretch marks on her thighs one day after she had showered and had forgotten to bring pants into the bathroom with her.

"It's like she doesn't even try to look good! It's disgusting." Marlene had complained once while they were sneaking off for some alone time. They rarely did anything of interest during their alone time because Marlene put so much energy into hating her roommate who had never actually done anything to wrong Marlene as far as Sirius could tell.

That was another reason Sirius didn't like Clarke. She was constantly a part of his life. If it wasn't Remus talking about how great she was it was James ranting about how they should ask her for help with their plan to help Remus, or Marlene complaining about nothing at all. It was infuriating, and entirely her fault. Peter had once tried to explain to Sirius that her just existing was no reason to prank her as hard as they did, but Sirius never listened and neither did James. James always wanted to prank anyone who was in close relations to people in Slytherin, and when Peter suggested the hair dye prank it had only included Clarke, but Sirius pointed out that Lily was good friends with Snape, and James couldn't argue the point.

Sirius did not expect the kind of backlash Clarke had gotten for her hair. He expected mild ridicule that centered entirely on her hair and her chosen friends but was both shocked and mortified when he heard them teasing her about a large number of other things. He nearly punched Dylan Davis for his comment about hiding her fat and actually did hex Marta for comparing her to a mandrake. There were lines people just shouldn't cross, especially when concerning someone who hadn't actually done anything to deserve it.

Sirius knew from experience how powerful words were, and how much they could tear a person down when used correctly. Clarke seemed to know that too, and refused to say anything in response. She was smart, and good with her words, she'd know where to hit to make it hurt. She knew exactly what he was doing and why he was doing it, and without having ever talked to him, she already knew why he did what he did. When she was upset with him she never once insulted him even though she could have easily torn him to pieces. She danced around any manner of hurtful words and that was more than Sirius expected from someone who was as upset as she was.

She had been crying before Sirius had tried to talk to her, he noticed. He knew the signs well enough. Crying was common in the Black household, though it was usually mixed with anger and hexes. Her eyes were still red and puffy and there were still tracks on her face as if she'd left in a hurry and didn't care what others thought. She probably didn't in that moment.

Sirius felt bad, for the first time since meeting her. He'd done a lot of bad things, but he never felt bad about them. He never thought that she was actually hurting as a result of his actions. He never thought that maybe he was hurting her feelings or making her feel like an outcast in Gryffindor. He always thought that it was what she wanted, being friends with Slytherins of all people. But that was the thing; those girls were the only people who had made friends with her when she had gotten to Hogwarts. Even he was guilty of sending her dirty looks the first day when all she was doing was asking Remus for directions. That was probably the most scared he'd ever seen her. Since then she looked like everything just bounced off of her.

Why did those girls choose to make friends with her anyway? He recognized Isabel Greengrass and Claire Parkinson from parties that he's attended, and knew that their parents were big supporters of the old ways. Isabel had been known to go quiet during these discussions, but never spoke out or disagreed. Claire was a different story, however. Claire used to voice her opinion all of the time. His parents would often say that she was such a smart girl and that it was a shame she acted so uncouth. "Where did her parents go wrong? They were so successful with Philip…" After her brother married Claire didn't speak out nearly as much.

So maybe it wasn't a shock that Claire had sought Clarke's friendship. An American Muggle-born girl was the biggest middle finger she could think of to send to her family. Isabel never seemed to rock the boat, however. She was always silent, never really agreeing or disagreeing, never taking sides or getting involved in any arguments. It confused Sirius to see how close she was with Clarke. She would wrap her arm around her, hug her, and even place a kiss on her forehead from time to time. Sirius had never seen Isabel act that way with anyone, so why Clarke?

Because she's a nice person, a traitorous part of his mind supplied. Sirius knew this of course. She had been nice and helpful to anyone who wasn't outwardly hostile. She wasn't even mean to the people who were hostile. She could not be telling her friends about what was going on Gryffindor because if she did he was sure it wouldn't be happening anymore. Of that, Sirius was certain because all three of her friends turned on him the moment Clarke was out of the hall yesterday.

"What was that for?!" The one with her hair in a braid was standing now. She didn't look like the kind of person to actually get angry but she clearly was now. They were all looking at him with varying degrees of emotion. The one with the braid just looked shocked, as if having issues coming to terms with what just happened. Isabel had a hard look to her, like staring into the eyes of and angry statue. Claire looked angry and lethal, especially when she stood and pulled her wand, pointing it directly at Sirius.

"You filthy little-"

"What were you talking about?" Isabel was still sitting, not even caring that her friend was speaking.

"Alright let's just all calm down." James was next to Sirius, hands up as a sign of surrender.

"Stay out of this Potter!" Claire turned her wand on James, who looked like he was about to pull his own wand.

"Claire, put your wand down! We don't want to get in trouble!" Isabel hissed more than yelled, but Claire just turned her fiery gaze on her friend.

"Is that what you care about? What about Theo?!"

"I want to know what happened and we won't be able to do that from detention." Claire glanced between her and the two boys before putting her wand back into her pocket. Both she and the other girl sat back down, but Clair looked like she was ready to pounce again at a moment's notice.

"Now, you two, what the hell was that about?" Sirius did not often feel fear, and James has yet to feel any real fear in his life, but both were sure that anyone would be scared of the deadly look those three girls were giving them right now. Sirius knew exactly where Isabel and Claire had gotten it from. Women from pureblood families were known for such glares, and their friend seemed to have mastered it as well.

"We… we're sorry, ok?" James tried and failed to diffuse the situation. The girls in front of them seemed to only grow more upset, as if his apology was offensive.

"What are you sorry for?" The girl with the braid looked between the two, trying to urge them to speak. Neither Sirius nor James wanted them to know what they did because they feared the repercussions. Anyone would fear the consequences if three furious witches were looking at them like these girls were.

"It was supposed to be a harmless prank…" Sirius in this moment also felt a great deal of shame, which was new. Sirius had not yet had a reason to feel shame for anything he did. He did bad things, but nothing that ever made him feel like a bad person. He always thought that all things considered he was a good person, but in this moment he felt like the worst person in the world.

"It wasn't though, was it?" Why was Isabel so calm? It was like the eye of the storm and the thought of the hurricane that was to come was frightening to say the least.

"No, we had dyed her hair green and it didn't go over well..."

"Don't forget the stripes." Sirius looked to his left to see that Remus had joined them, acting like the disappointed father. Sirius felt worse if at all possible. Even Remus was disappointed in them. Of course, they knew he would be since they consciously decided to keep this particular prank to themselves. Sirius made a mental note that if they knew Remus would not approve of their actions, they probably shouldn't do them.

"Right, there were silver stripes in her green hair." James was looking at his feet now.

"Ok, but Theo is a tough girl. Green hair wouldn't bother her that much, would it?" The third girl was talking now, looking at them with both hatred and confusion. "I mean, she'd be upset but it would go away. It certainly wouldn't cause her reaction. What don't we know?"

"Back off, Hart. Clarke got what she deserved." Sirius resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Marlene really, really was not welcome right now. She was only going to make all of this that much worse but she was already at his side, hooking her arm in his and placing a hand on her hip. Marlene was a vicious girl but there was no doubt in Sirius's mind that any one of these three girls in front of him could take her, muggle way or otherwise. She was just petty, these girls were protective and it was clear to him which was a stronger driving force.

"And who are you?" Isabel was unimpressed by Marlene's little show. Marlene seemed taken aback by how little Isabel seemed to care.

"I'm roommates with Stretch Mark Clark." She said with a sneer.

Sirius physically moved away from Marlene, and was not the only one to do so. James and Remus had the same idea and got out of Isabel's way as she was now standing and getting dangerously close to Marlene. Marlene looked to Sirius for support but he was looking anywhere but her. He was not going to take the fall for this one, no matter how good she snogged.

"What did you call her?" Sirius noted that Isabel had actually pulled her wand and artfully hid it between the two so that the teachers wouldn't see it but Marlene was aware that it was there. Sirius would be impressed if he was not so busy fearing exactly what Isabel was going to do with that wand.

"N-nothing, I didn't…" She stopped talking when the wand was pressed against her.

"No, you called her something rather offensive. Now, let me be clear when I say that stretch marks are not at all something to be ashamed of, but the way in which you use it seems to be intended to humiliate my friend. I cannot let that go, now can I? You can understand it, being a Gryffindor and all."

Sirius wanted to step in, but only because he was beginning to really fear for Marlene. Isabel was upset with James and Sirius for a prank that was clearly unintended to hurt. Like the one girl said, it was a relatively harmless prank that most would get over when it wore off. Marlene's intentions were much more malicious, and Isabel seemed fiercely defensive of her friend.

"Isabel, the adults are looking." Isabel shot a look towards the professors before she backed off and sat back down, crossing her legs all in one seamless motion. Marlene took this opportunity to find a seat on the other side of the hall. Sirius suddenly wondered why he didn't do the same when their attention was on Marlene, but figured it was one of those natural human things in which you cannot help but watch a disaster unfold.

"You're Lupin, right?" Remus jumped at being addressed but nodded at Claire, whose eyes had softened only slightly when she looked at him. He was not in trouble, which was a good thing because then Sirius would actually have to step in and set them straight. Sirius did not want to do that.

"Theo likes you, I think. Can you help us understand what happened here today? I don't trust those two to give us the full story." Claire was glaring at Sirius and James again in a way that clearly said "leave before I make you" and they needed no more invitation to flee the scene.

Remus had torn them a new one in the common room when they got back from class. Peter got yelled at too, since the prank was actually his idea. All looked at their feet like children being scolded by their father.

"What were you thinking?!" He shouted near the end, gripping his hair in frustration.

"We didn't think people would go that far," James tried.

"Why would you think that?! Sirius, you snog her biggest bully! You used the person who hates her most to do it! How did that not cross your mind?!" Remus sat and put his head in his hands. "I just don't get why you dislike her so much…"

"Well, because you fancy her, don't you?" Remus's head shot up and looked between them in shock.

"That's… that's what you think?" They all nodded. "Ok, I don't. She's a nice bird, and she helps me in potions, but I don't fancy anyone at the moment. That being said, why would you do that to her? If I fancied her, what could you possibly hope to accomplish? Is this about my furry little problem?"

"No! We just thought you could do better…" Sirius did not envy the full force glare Peter was receiving from Remus in that moment.

"What do you even know about her?! She's a smart, funny, and intelligent girl, and you think that I should 'do better'? Why would you even think that?!"

They all found that they couldn't answer. She was nice, if not a little strange. Remus was right, of course. He was always right. Sirius rolled over in his bed, thinking about what he was going to do when he got back. He wanted to make it up to Clarke in some way, but fell asleep before he could think of anything.

Potter Residence

3:27 pm, December 16, 1973

"James Potter! I am very disappointed in you!" They had just received the letter from Professor McGonagall telling them about his most recent prank and they were not pleased in the least. His father was sitting on the couch, his mother was standing in front of him with her arms crossed tapping her foot. James was having issues meeting their eyes.

"I didn't mean to upset her! Just mess with her a little…"

"What have we told you about picking on people?" Mr. Potter sat forward on his seat, giving his son a hard look. James didn't like that look. That look was reserved for when he really messed up. He supposed he did.

"That it can be really hurtful and that I should never do it. But it wasn't supposed to be hurtful, I swear!" Mrs. Potter threw her hands up, as if there was no other outlet for her frustration.

"That's not for you to decide, James. You don't get to decide whether what you do is hurtful or offensive. Did you know what you were doing might be upsetting?"

"Yes…" James was looking at his feet again.

"Then you shouldn't have done it." James knew they were right, and the more he thought about it, the worse he felt. He really should have realized how bad the backlash was going to be. He knew that a lot of kids in their house saw her as a traitor for making friends with some girls in the other house, but he didn't even consider it when he decided to prank her like that. He liked to pick on her, but other kids were just vicious.

"You're right, I'm sorry."

"We're not who you should be apologizing to. Write her an apology right now young man. Don't come down until you're done." James nodded and sulked up the stairs.

It shouldn't be too hard, he figured. He just wrote:

16 December, 1973

Dear Clarke,

I'm really sorry for what I did. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.

Happy Christmas,

James Potter

But when James went to send it, his mother looked it over and decided instantly that it was not contrite enough. He was sent upstairs to rewrite it and had to get it approved by his mother before he could send it. It was much harder than he thought.

I'm really sorry about what I did. I didn't think that what I did would hurt your feelings as much as it did, and that was my bad. I hope you can forgive me.

That wasn't good enough either. For one, "my bad" was not at all what you were supposed to put in a written apology apparently. You should also put exactly what you're sorry for. And you shouldn't say "as much as it did" because that heavily implies harm was meant. James didn't mean it that way, but Mrs. Potter didn't care and sent him up to rewrite it.

I'm really sorry about dying your hair green and using your roommates to help. I should have thought about how it would make you feel, but I didn't and I'm really sorry about that. I hope that you can forgive me.

Mrs. Potter thought that this was much closer, but she "still couldn't feel just how sorry he was" and was sent to rewrite it a final time, with his mother shouting after him, "and use her first name for Merlin's sake!"

James stared at the parchment, wondering how he was supposed to really show her how sorry he was. He realized that when trying to write the letter, he had been trying to hold back, thinking of things to say and deciding it was too girly before landing on something much less personal. With a heavy sigh he began writing again, not holding back.

16 December, 1973

Dear Theodosia,

I realized that I really hurt your feelings before break by dying your hair green and adding the silver stripes, and I'm sorry. I never thought that those kids would react the way they did, but I should have. I've seen the way they treat you, and I'm sorry about that too. I know I've been making things really hard on you since you've transferred from America but I promise from now on I'll be a lot nicer. I'll even get everyone else to be nicer too.

I hope you feel better now, and I hope you can forgive me.

Happy Christmas,

James Potter

P.S. Sirius is sorry too. I'll get him to write when he comes to visit.

James felt like a poof, but it did make him feel better, especially when he got a response.

December 21, 1973

Dear James,

You complete and utter girl.

I am just kidding of course, since I really did appreciate your apology. Also, tell your mother I said thanks for making you write it. I'm sure you meant it, but I'm also sure writing me a letter didn't cross your mind.

I'm also sure you didn't mean to hurt my feelings any of those times. I'm really grateful that neither you nor your friends have taken to mocking me like the other kids in the house. They can be really hurtful sometimes, you know? Lily said I always seem like it's not bothering me, but it does. I don't want you to feel responsible for making them stop either, though I appreciate the sentiment.

Merry Christmas!

Theodosia Clarke

P.S. Did you know we say Merry Christmas in America? We also put the month before the day in the date.

26 December, 1973

Dear Theodosia,

Of course it's my responsibility! I am the most popular boy in Gryffindor, who else is responsible for defending its members? I'll use my charm and good looks to sway them!

They're real jerks anyway, you're not missing much. Especially Dylan Davis, I'm on the Quidditch team with him and he thinks he's the greatest keeper we've ever had. He doesn't know he's only on the team because no one else wants to try out for the position.

Besides, you're like top of our class behind the beautiful Lily Evans so don't listen to them.

Your friend,

James Potter

December 30, 1973

Dear James,

Please, for the love of magic, call me Theo. No one calls me Theodosia. It's such a mouthful. Funny you mention Quidditch, because I used to play back at Ilvermorny. I was the keeper actually. I didn't want to try out this year because, well, people suck. But if he's as bad as you say I might just try out next year to spite him. What position do you play?

And you sound a lot like Isabel, she acts like I'm smarter than everyone but you've seen how terrible I am at Herbology. She mentioned she gave you boys a talking to. I hope she didn't scare you too much? She's a little protective but she means well. She's also kind of cute when she's angry, isn't she? She gets that little crinkle between her brows and her eyes get all bright.

By the way, how's that Animagus thing going? I want to help.

Your friend,

Theo

3 January, 1974

Dear Theo,

Isabel is a very scary witch. I wouldn't call her cute when angry, more frightening and vicious. So are the other two. I'm glad you have friends like that though, since we've been so terrible. Well, me and Sirius have been. Remus is nice to everyone, and you are too for that matter. No wonder they get so protective of you, you need to stick up for yourself. I'll help!

How did you know we're trying to become Animagi? You can't tell anyone, it's supposed to be secret. And why do you want to help all of a sudden? Aren't you worried about what we're going to do with it? I would be. You didn't even tell us how to do that charm for copying handwriting a couple months ago. This just seems like a much bigger deal. Of course we would appreciate your help, if you're willing to give it.

You should totally try out for the team! I bet the captain would even let you try out late if you wanted, because we're absolutely rubbish with Davis right now. We lost to Hufflepuff. Hufflepuff. Even my superb Chaser skills and Sirius's superb Beater skills couldn't save us. You can't be any worse than Davis and you're way better to talk to. I'll even talk to the captain if you want.

Your friend,

James

P.S. I hope Sirius wrote a good apology. I didn't read it. If it's terrible let me know so I can punch him for you.

Dear Theodosia,

I already apologized but I don't think you believed me. I wouldn't believe me either, after the day you had. I actually hexed Marta about the Mandrake thing, but that's not the point. I mean, you don't look like a mandrake, but I'm not trying to distract from the apology.

Anyway, I'm sorry. I know that people really don't like you and I'm sorry I just made it easy for them to pick on you. Remus and Peter are going to help James and I make other people back off. Also, the Remus thing was a misunderstanding. We kind of don't think before we do things.

I hope you can accept my apology.

Sincerely,

Sirius Black

P.S. Peter explained the superhero that moons people joke and he thought it was rather funny. I do see your point but by now it's stuck and we can't take it back.

January 7, 1974

Dear James,

Sirius wrote a fine apology, no need for violence. Please let him know he is forgiven.

I am curious as to what it's for but you're breaking the law (I'm assuming you don't plan to register) so I'd imagine there's a good reason. Please remember that this is a really hard thing to do. I had to carry a mandrake leaf around in my mouth for a month and I meditate every day with McGonagall. You need to commit.

Sirius is on the Quidditch team too? I think I'd actually prefer to just wait until next year, maybe? No need to talk to the captain. I'll do it the old fashion way.

I'll see you when school starts up again. Thanks for writing me. Isabel and Claire can't let their family know they're friends with me so I haven't been able to talk to them and Anna can't write because she'll be a little too far in France so it's been a little lonely at Hogwarts.

Your friend (and soon to be mentor),

Theo

"She ignored my apology. She hates me." Sirius fell onto his bed after reading the letter.

"She doesn't hate you. I just think the pumpkin juice was a little too far for her, and the part where you tripped her the first day. And maybe how you snog her roommate who hates her guts…"

"Thanks, James."

"I just think she needs a little time. Once you guys are on the Quidditch team together, she'll get over it right away." James's confidence was not at all reassuring at the moment. Sirius was still in a terrible mood from being home for the greater part of break.

"She didn't even want to be on the team once she found out I was on it."

"That's not it…"

Sirius shot James a look and he just shrugged.

"She just needs time! She's had a rough go of it. She'll have to once she sees you're not always a giant prick." Sirius threw a pillow at James but he caught it and laughed.

"I can't believe we thought she had a thing for Moony." James fell back onto the bed next to Sirius and they both stared up at the ceiling.

"Why do you say that?"

"Because she obviously fancies Isabel," James said casually. Sirius shot up and looked down at his friend who had closed his eyes as if to doze off.

"What do you mean by that?" James glanced at him from one slightly opened eye.

"I meant Theo fancies Isabel. Remember the letter I showed where she talked about how cute Isabel was?"

"Yea but that's like a thing all birds do, right? They complement each other and stuff all the time and it doesn't mean anything. Marlene complimented Marta every day during lunch."

"That's different. That's like if I said 'you look good in that black t-shirt' versus if I said 'you look so good when you're playing Quidditch.'"

"Yea but you're a bloke!"

"But you see my point, right? There's a different sort of tone to it. Like one is just an observation and the other is more of a… I don't know. It's not something a person would normally comment on if they didn't fancy you."

Sirius sat and thought about it for a second. Sirius had never really fancied anyone the way James fancied Lily. He'd found many girls and guys very attractive and even appreciated them from time to time, but never thought much about them. He never thought about the things they did when they weren't doing something for him. He supposed that without any personal experience, he would have issues recognizing the signs in another person.

"Hey Sirius, can I ask you something?"

Sirius hummed in affirmation.

"Do you even like Marlene?" Sirius thought about that for a second. He liked the way she kissed, and he really like some of the other things she did with her mouth, but none of those things included talking. It wasn't like she had an annoying voice; it was more that what she said wasn't ever important to Sirius. If she wasn't complaining about Clarke, she was complaining about someone else. Sometime she even complained about Marta, and it was never about anything important. It was always something like how they looked or what they wore and once she even complained about how good someone looked. Sirius found that particularly ridiculous and most of the time he disagreed with her.

Sirius knew that Marlene wasn't the only person to do this, but she was the only one he continually put up with. More than once he'd wonder if it was even worth it but then she'd do something like whisper in his ear or bite that one spot on his neck and he would forget why he was upset. When he thought about it, it probably wasn't what a relationship was about, but he also didn't really know if that's what they were.

"I mean, sometimes she's not so bad." James snorted.

"She's always pretty bad. You know that. I don't get why you don't just drop her like you did that one guy."

"I didn't drop him; he decided he didn't want to beat for that team."

"Yea but you didn't care. You just moved on. Why don't you move on from Marlene already?"

"Are you hitting on me Jamie boy?" Sirius sent a flirtatious wink to his friend who smacked him upside the head.

"I just really hate how much time she spends with us. She gets upset when you're not talking to her and then she whines… I hate whining Sirius."

"Ok, then I'll drop her. I was planning to anyway. She was a right twat to Clarke." James shot Sirius a critical look.

"Since when has that mattered to you?"

"Stop asking questions, I only agreed to one." James started whining and tugging on Sirius's sleeve, who responded by tackling James to the floor. The wrestling match continued until both were tired from trying to pin one another and laughing so hard their sides hurt.

Hogwarts, Scotland

12:53 am, Christmas Day

Theo was in a house, but not one that was still inhabited. Things were torn and there was blood on the walls. Most things were covered in dust, and cobwebs were in the corners. Theo had never been here before, but if she was seeing it then she will probably visit at some point. She was observing an old piano when she heard a strange sound coming from upstairs. She followed the noise quietly, hoping not to alert anyone to her presence. The closer she got, the more the noise sounded like a whimper. Was someone in pain? She walked faster, finally arriving at a door at the end the hall. She pushed in open gently.

On the bed was a boy curled in on himself shaking and whimpering like a dog in pain with his back facing her. She took a step forward, and then another. She was hesitant, not sure what to make of what she was seeing. She wasn't sure if she could even help or not but she wanted to be there, she wanted to help.

She froze when the boy let out a blood curdling scream. It was the most horrific scream she'd ever heard in her life and before she knew it she was pressing herself against the wall. The boy rolled around, as if hoping to get away from the pain but he couldn't. He just kept screaming and screaming. Theo tried covering her ears but it was useless.

Then she saw his face. It was Remus.

Sweet Remus Lupin who was so nice and so gentle and just so good. He was suffering right in front of her and she couldn't take it. She covered her eyes and started crying, trying to urge her mind to pull away from this scene.

'Please, make it stop! Make it stop!'

Then there was a sickening crack. She looked up again to see something so much worse than before. It looked like his bones were breaking and snapping back into place. Joints moved and his snout elongated until he looked like a dog. Slowly his screams were changing, morphing into something different. Fur began to grow everywhere and his screams turned into howls.

Finally, it was over and on the bed sat a giant wolf with dark brown fur and yellow eyes. It was looking around the room, sniffing as if trying to find something. But then, its lips pulled into a growl and it began growling, before lunging off of the bed and out of the room. Theo followed it, needing to know if it could get out. She needed to warn someone!

When she caught up to the wolf it was violently throwing itself against the back door. She was frozen at the foot of the stairs, watching it throw its whole weight into the effort. There was a snap and the wolf fell to the floor, unable to put weight onto its right shoulder. It began whimpering, trying to walk and stumbling before limping around. It kept growling as it paced and then seemed to lose control again and began biting his injured leg as if hoping to remove it.

That's when Theo remembered this wasn't just a wolf, this was Remus. Remus was tearing himself apart right in front of her.

"Stop it! Remus stop!" She ran up to him, unafraid of what he'd do if she got too close. She went to grab him but her arm passed right through. She kept trying to reach as the wolf got more violent. She was crying again, begging him to stop. Blood was spilling everywhere as he only got more and more vicious. Finally Theo just fell back and covered her ears, begging Remus to stop as she rocked back and forth.

"STOP IT!" Theo was sitting upright in her bed now, sweat covering her skin and drenching the sheets. She looked around, not fully registering that she was awake again. Her surroundings seemed to fade in and out between her room and the house she had just left. When she was finally able to focus on her curtains she reached for her shirt and tugged it on before standing and pulling her pants on.

She bolted out the door and down the stairs, her feet carrying her without even thinking about where she was going. Before she knew it she was banging on the door to McGonagall's quarters.

"What is the mean- Theo?"

"REMUS! He's- he's… Where is he?!"

"Theo just calm down," McGonagall whispered as she placed her hands on Theo's shoulders but she pulled away so quickly she fell to the floor and continued to crawl until she was pressed against the wall.

"Please don't! I'm sorry! I'm sorry I just… There was BLOOD! There was so much blood! Why… Why did he? Where is he?!" McGonagall was leaning next to her whispering something but Theo couldn't hear her. She just kept seeing Remus's bones crack and reform.

"Theo, you have to calm down!"

"HOW CAN I?! HE'S A WEREWOLF!" McGonagall froze for a second before swiftly standing and walking into her room again. Theo stood quickly and followed her. "Professor! Please! We have to do something!"

"Theo, please sit down." McGonagall motioned to a plump armchair. Theo sat, bringing her legs up to her chest and rocking back and forth with her face buried in her knees. She didn't even notice when Dumbledore walked through the fire in his night robes.

"Miss Clarke, have you calmed down?" Theo snapped her head up to look at Dumbledore.

"How can I?! He's a werewolf! You have to do something!" She felt wetness on her cheeks and she realized she was crying again but she didn't care. This was bad. This was so bad.

"We know, Miss Clarke." McGonagall spoke from the fire.

"And you haven't done anything?" She felt like the world was spinning. How could they let this happen? How could they not care?

"He's a student here, there's nothing to do. He's not a danger to anyone."

"What about himself?! I know he can't hurt us! I saw him! He was locked in that house all alone tearing himself apart and screaming and… and… I'm going to be sick." Theo leaned over the edge of the chair she was sitting on and was grateful when she saw a waste basket appear just in time for her to puke right into it. When she finished she looked over to her professors through her hair. Dumbledore and McGonagall had their gazes fixed on Theo, hard and unfeeling.

"I'm- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…"

"It's quite alright, Miss Clarke. It seems you've had quite an ordeal." Theo was scared, wondering what they were going to do. She'd just screamed at her Professors. What were they going to do to her? This was so bad. This was so, so bad. She was going to be in so much trouble. She did it again. She upset her again.

"I'm sorry…"

"Theo, how much did you see?" McGonagall was next to her resting on the armrest she wasn't draped over.

"I didn't mean to, I didn't mean to…"

"We know, Theo. You're not in trouble."

"I'm not?"

"Why would you be in trouble, Miss Clarke?" Dumbledore was seated on the floor in front of her, which Theo couldn't help but find a little strange looking. It was like looking at a horse sitting on its hind legs.

"I just… I wasn't supposed to see it…"

"You can't help it." McGonagall went to place a hand on her back but seemed to have thought better of it.

"I should be able to… I need to be better… I shouldn't be able to see it…" Theo was suddenly very tired, having issues keeping her eyes open. Everything was fuzzy.

"Who told you that?"

"Momma… Momma hates it when I see these things… I shouldn't be able to see these things… It's not right…"

They didn't try saying anything anymore. She just kept mumbling, sometimes they could understand what she was saying, other times they couldn't. Most of what she said was "I'm sorry" or "I didn't mean to" but other things came out too like "please don't scream" and "I won't tell". When she finally dozed off hanging over the edge of the chair, Dumbledore and McGonagall shared a look.

"Do you know if this happens every time?" McGonagall asked, finally daring to rub the girl's back. Dumbledore looked at her, seeming to thinks things over.

"Edmund said she never told him but he occasionally noticed strange behavior. She sometimes seemed to have a lower level of comprehension but it occurred only a handful of times a year." McGonagall nodded, continuing to rub her back.

"She regressed a great deal. Do we know what her home life is like?" Dumbledore shook his head, understanding where she might be going with this. If Theo had been punished as a child for having these visions, it might continue to affect her throughout her life.

"It could explain her behavior, but there is no way to know for sure without asking her directly."

"I went to touch her and she could not get away fast enough. I'm concerned, Albus. You know it'll only get worse."

"I know, Minerva. We can only try to prepare for what is to come. For now we let her rest."